Engine



Sept. 18, 1934. A. J. MEYER 1,973,856

ENGINE FiledlApril 30. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l .9 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

A. J. MEYER Sept. 18, 1934.

ENGINE FiledzApril 30 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I ATTORNEY.

Sept. 18, 1934. A MEYER 1,973,856

ENGINE FilediApril 30, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

' 1 flim-e JMeyzr.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 1 8, 19.34. J MEYER 1,973,856

ENGINE FiledvzApril 30. 1932 5 Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTOR.

17 .5041? Jfl/WZI' ATTORNEY.

A. J. MEYER Sept. 18, 1934.

ENGINE Filed-.April 30. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES ENGINE Andre J. Meyer, Detroit,

tinental Motors Corporation, Detroit,

corporation of Virginia Mich., assignor to con:

Mich 'a.

Application April 30, 1932,. Serial No. 608,368.

27 Claims. (Cl. 123-81). I

My invention relates to engines and more particularly to internal combustion engines of the sleeve valve type. I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention in connection with a sleeve valve engine of the Burt-McCollum type, but it will be obvious that the principles of my invention may be incorporated in engines other than those of the particular type illustrated.

An object of my invention is to construct an engine having generally improved operating characteristics. I

A further object of my invention is to generally improve the operating characteristics of an engine of the aforesaid type by providing an assem- I5 bly in which the various cooperating elements are so constructed and timed in operation as provide for improved emciency with respect to the intake and exhaust.

V For a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form which my invention may assume, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of an engine illustrating a typical cylinder construce tion embodying the principles of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a piston e the engine as illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the piston taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the port diagram illustrating the relation of the ports in the power stroke,

Fig. 6 is a port diagram illustrating the opening of the inner or lower exhaust,

Fig. 7 is a port diagram illustrating the opening of the outer or upper exhaust,

Fig. 8 is a port diagram of lower exhaust closing,

Fig. 9 is a port diagram of intake port opening, Fig. 10 is a port diagram of actual engine intake opening,

Fig. 11 is a port diagram of upper exhaust closin Fig. 12 is a port diagram illustrating the unmasking of sleeve exhaust port during the intake stroke but subsequent to the closing of said lower exhaust ports,

Fig. 13 is a port diagram of intake closing and the beginning of the compression stroke,

Fig. 14 is a timing diagram of the engine, Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of a piston 0i modified construction,

Fig. 16 is a plan view thereof,

mploy'ed with Fig. l7 is a diagrammatic view of the port diagram illustrating the relation of the ports at the beginning of the power stroke in connection with an engine employing the modified piston i1- lustrated in Figs. 15 and 16,

Fig. 18 is a port diagram; showing the lower exhaust opening,

Fig. 19 is a port diag opening,

Fig. 20 is a port diagram of the lower exhaus closing,

Fig. 21 is a port diagram of the intake port opening,

Fig. 22 is a port diagra intake opening,

Fig. 23 is a p c s Fig. 24 is a port diagram illustrating the rela tion of the lower cylinder and sleeve exhaust ports at the time of unmasking of said sleeve exhaust port by the'descending piston during the intake stroke,

Fig. 25 is a port diagram of intake closing and the beginning of the compression stroke,

Fig. 26 is a timing diagram of the engine employing the modified piston construction,

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a typical engine cylinder and associated piston of modified construction as illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, and i Fig. 28 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a sleeve of modified construction,

Figs. 29 to 31 inclusive diagrammatically illustrate three positions which may be assumed by the recessed sleeve portion whereby to vary the timing of the exhaust port opening and closing.

I have chosen for purposes of illustration to show my invention in connection with a sleeve valve engine of the Burt-McCollumtypc, which in general comprises a crankcase and cylinder block structure 10 having a cylinder 11. A cylin der head. 12 is secured to the cylinder structure in the usual way by means of bolts 13 or other suitable fastening devices, the cylinder structure and cylinder head being respectively provided with communicating jacket portions 14 and 15. The cylinder head may, if desired, be provided with a portion 12 depending within the cylinder in spaced relation therewith to provide a sleeve pocket 16 for accommodating the upper sleeve portion when said sleeve is at its outer limit of travel. The sleeve 17 of the type illustrated is adapted to movewith a combined reciprocating and oscillating motion by any suitable drive op ratively connected with the engine crankshaft 18. The

ram of the upper exhaust m of theactual engine ort diagram of; upper exhaust wobble drive as herein illustrated provides one convenient way by which to operate the sleeve and preferably consists of a wobble shaft 19 having cranks 20, the sleeve 17 being connected to these wobble cranks by means of a yoke or link 21 and the ball and socket connection 22. The crankshaft 18 includes cranks 23, a connecting rod 24 connecting each of said cranks with I a piston 25 adapted for operation within the engine cylinder and preferably within the sleeve 1'7.

The cylinder is ported for intake as at 28, the cylinder being preferably provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced intake ports (see Fig. 2). The cylinderis alsoprovided with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced inner or lower exhaust ports 29 and the circumferentially spaced outer or upper exhaust ports .30, and it may be noted that the intake port lies in a plane intermediate the inner and outer exhaust ports 29 and 30. The sleeve 1'7 is provided with intake ports 31 cooperating with the cylinder intake ports 28 and with exhaust ports 32 cooperating with the inner or lower cylinder exhaust ports 29,'the said outer or upper cylinder exhaust ports being adapted to cooperate with the sleeve upper edge 33.

The piston illustrated in Fig. 1 is preferably provided with a crown 26 proportioned with regard to the desired compression ratio, and with cutaway portions 27 adapted for respective cooperation with the cylinder intake ports 28.

It may be observed that the piston is thus provided with what I describe as intake port controlling portions 34 formed at the junction of the recess or cut-away piston portions 27 with the piston skirt 25' and the exhaust port controlling portion 35 formed by the edge at the intersection of said piston skirt and the piston top face. It may be noted that the cut-away portions 2'? are respectively spaced circumferentially about the piston top and the intake and exhaust port controlling portions 34 and 35 are respectively space longitudinally or axially of the piston.

Figs. 5 to 13 diagrammatically illustrate the relationship of the cylinder and sleeve ports with respect to the piston for successive cyclical events of the engine. Thus, in Fig. 5 representing the beginning of the power stroke, it will be noted that the intake and exhaust ports are out of registration, the sleeve being moved downwardly but still positioned substantially in its outer position of travel. In Fig. 6 the piston has moved inwardly to uncover the sleeve exhaust port 32 prior to registration of the sleeve and cylinder exhaust ports 32 and 29 respectively. Thus when the lower edge 32 of the sleeve exhaust port 32 is moved into registration with the upper edge 29 of the cylinder exhaust port 29, the lower engine exhaust'opens, this event preferably occuring on the down stroke of the piston near the end of the power stroke. Further movement of the sleeve moves the sleeve top edge 33 into registration with the top edge 30 of the cylinder upper exhaust port 30 (Fig. '7) and thus the upper cylinder exhaust opens on further downward movement of the sleeve 17. The next event (Fig. 8) is the closing 'of the lower exhaust and this is accomplished by means of the piston, the top edge 35 of the piston cooperating with the top edge 32" of the sleeve port 32 to close the lower engine exhaust. During the remaining up stroke of the piston the upper exhaust remainsopen and the piston moves into position for mask-3 ing the intake ports prior to opening said intake ports (see Fig. 9). On the next successive downward movement of the piston the piston u nmasks the intake ports subsequent to the openingof same and before the sleeve has moved outwardly of the cylinder an amount sufficient to mask the upper exhaust port 30. Thus Fig. 10 illustrated the time of actual engine intake, the intake port controlling edge or portion 34 cooperating with the sleeve intake port to effect the actual engine intake.

Soon after actual engine intake opens, the upper exhaust port 30 is covered by the sleeve 17 (see Fig. 11). In Fig. 12 it will be noted that the lower cylinder and sleeve exhaust ports 29 and 32 are moved out of registration before the piston uncovers the sleeve port 32 during the intake stroke. Fig. 13 illustrates intake closing, all exhaust ports being closed at this time, the beginning of the compression stroke.

. The modified construction illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive operates in a manner similar to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive. However, in this modified construction the exhaust port controlling portion or edge 39 is provided by beveling ofi the piston 40 as at 41 opposite the cylinder exhaust ports 29 and 30, and the intake port controlling portions or edges 42 are formed by the recesses or out-away portions 43 similar in construction to the cut-away portions 27; Figs. 17 to 25 inclusive diagrammatically illustrate the relative position of the cylinder and sleeve ports with respect to the piston 40 for each successive event, such as the beginning of the power stroke (Fig. 17) lower exhaust opening (Fig. 18) upper exhaust opening (Fig. 19) lower exhaust closing (Fig. 20) intake port opening (Fig. 21) actual engine intake opening (Fig. 22) upper exhaust closing (Fig. 23) and intake closing (Fig. 25).

In Fig. 28 I have illustrated a slightly modified sleeve construction adapted to be incorporated in an engine of the character described, or with any engine in which the products of combustion are exhausted over the top edge of the sleeve. In this showing the top or outer edge of the sleeve 17 is cut-away or recessed as at 50 opposite to exhaust port 30, whereby to provide for a relatively earlier opening of the upper exhaust port 3-3 while still masking the intake ports with the sleeve. It may be observed that the timing of the upper exhaust opening and/or closing can be varied as desired by increasing or decreasing the depth of the cutaway portion 50, and the lateral positioning of said cut-away portion 50, due to the oscillating travel of the sleeve may be utilized to further control the upper exhaust timing, since it is possible to thereby open the exhaust by the edge 50' formed by the cut-away portion 50 and close the port by the top edge 33' of the sleeve, open the port by top edge 33 and'close the port by the edge 50, or both open and close the portv by the top edge 50. In all cases the port is opened and closed by a motion of the. sleeve longitudinally of the cylinder, the top horizontal edges of the sleeve providing the opening and closing edges.

In Figs. 29 to 31 I have diagrammatically illustrated how the timing of the opening and closing of the exhaust port 30 may be varied by shifting the recessed sleeve portion circumferentially oi the sleeve. Thus, in Fig. 29 the port is both opened and closed by the horizontal sleeve edge 50, in Fig. 30 the port is opened by edge 50 and closed by edge 33', and in Fig. 31 the port is opened by edge 33' and closed by edge 50.

In the construction herein described, it will be noted that the timing of the engine intake and exhaust may be readily controlled by the arrangement shown in the herein described embodiment of my invention, the piston, sleeve and relationship between the ports cooperating to provide porting most favorable to engine performance. In partic the provision of a piston with intake and exhaust port controlling portions respectively spaced longitudinally or axially of the piston facilitates the manufacture of engines of the aforesaid type of the most efficient timing.

It will he apparent to those skilled in th art to which my invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may he made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I cla as my invention is:

1. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, ported sleeve valve controlling said ports, and a piston having an exhaust port controlling portion and an intake port controlling portion respectively spaced axially of the piston whereby to control engine intake and 'exhaus 2. In an. engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust and including outer and inner exhaust ports spaced axially of the cylind r, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston having an inner exhaust port controlling portion and an intake port controlling portion respectively spaced axially or the piston whereby to control engine intake and exhaust.

3. In an of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust and including outer inner exhaust ports spaced of the cylinder, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and means cooperating therewith provided with exhaust port controh ling portion and an intake port controlling portion respectively spaced axially of said means whereby to control engine intake and exhaust.

4. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake xhaust, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston having an exhaust port controlling portion whereby to control engine exhaust and a ec ssed portion constructed to form an. intake port controlling portion.

5. In an engine 1" the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, ported sleeve valve means controlling s ports, and a piston having .o exhaust port controlling portion whereby to control engine exhaust and a recessed portion constructed to form an intake port con.- trolling portion spaced axially oi the piston with respect to said exhaust port controlling portion.

6. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust and in cluding outer and inner exhaust ports spaced axially oi the cylinder, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston having an ex haust port controlling portion whereby to control engine exhaust and a recessed portion constructed for an intake controllin portion spaced axially of the piston with respect to said exhaust port controlling portion.

'7. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust and including outer inner exhaust ports spaced axially oi the cylinder and an intake port inte'"- mediate exhaust ports, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, cooperating therewith having an exhaust port control g portion and an intake port controlling portion whereby to control engine intake and ex haust, said intake and exhaust controlling portions respectively spaced longitudinally of said means.

8. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston cooperating with said cylinder and having an outer edge normally extended beyond the sleeve intake port when in its outer limit of travel, said piston havin a cut-away portion adapted for 00- operative operation with said sleeve intake port.

9. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston cooperating with said cylinder and having a cutaway porti n adapted for cooperative operation with said sleeve intake port whereby to control engine intake.

In engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston cooperating therewith and provided with a cut-away portion cooperatively associated with intake port to provide for engine intake prior to closing of engine exhaust.

11. In engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust and including outer and inner exhaust ports spaced axially of the cylinder, ported sleeve valve means controllin: said ports, and a piston cooperating therewith. and having cut away portion cooper tively associated with the intake port to provide ior engine intake prior to closing of outer engine exhaust.

12. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust and including outer and inner exhaust ports spaced axially oi the cylinder, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston cooperating therewith and having a cut-away portion co operatively associated with the intake port to provide for intake subsequent to closing of inner engine exhaust and prior to closing of outer engine exhaust.

13. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylind r ported for intake exhaust and ineluding outer and inner exhaust ports spaced axially of th cylinder, said cylinder intake port located substantially adjacent the cylinder outer end, ported sleeve valve means controlling said ports, and a piston cooperating therewith and having an inner exhaust port controlling portion and an intake port controlling portion spaced axially of the piston from said exhaust port controlling portlon, the operation of said piston effecting a closing of inner exhaust prior to opening of engine intakeand the opening of said engine intake prior to closing of the outer engine exhaust.

is. A sleeve valve for a sleeve valve internal combustion engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, said sleeve valve having a recessed top edge adapted for cooperative operation with one of the cylinder ports for controlling the opening and closing of said port.

15. A sleeve valve for a sleeve valve internal combustion engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, said sleeve valve having a recessed top edge adapted for cooperative operation with a. cylinder exhaust port whereby to control. the opening and closing of same.

an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder intake exhaust, sleeve valve means controlling said ports and constructed for movement inwardly of the cylinder to unmask one of the cylinder ports, the said sleeve valve means having an outer edge provided with a recessed portion cooperating with said cylinder port whereby to close said port on movement of the sleeve outwardly of the cylinder.

1'7. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means controlling said ports and constructed for movement longitudinally of the cylinder whereby to open and close one or said cylinder ports by the outer edge of said sleeve, a portion of said sleeve outer edge having a recessed por-- tion cooperating with the said cylinder port whereby to effect an opening of said port prior to movement of the non-recessed outer sleeve edge inwardly of the cylinder port outer edge.

18. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means controlling said ports and constructed for movement inwardly of the cylinder to unmask a cylinder exhaust port, the sleeve valve means having an outer edge provided with a recessed portion cooperating with the said cylinder exhaust port whereby to effect an engine exhaust opening and closing.

19. In an engine of the sleeve valve type having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means associated therewith for controlling said ports, the top edge of said. sleeve having a recessed portion constructed to provide suostantially horizontal port opening and closing edges.

20. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, a single sleeve valve of the combined movement type operable in said cylinder for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve having a recessed outer edge adapted for cooperative operation with one of the cylinder ports for controlling the opening of said port.

21. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, a single sleeve valve of the combined movement type operable in said cylinder for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve having a recessed outer edge adapted for cooperative operation with one of the cylinder ports for controlling the closing of said port.

22. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, a single sleeve valve of the combined movement type operable in said cylinder for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve having a recessed outer edge adapted for cooperative operation with one of the cylinder ports for controlling the opening of said port.

23. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, a single sleeve valve of the combined movement type operable in said cylinder for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve outer edge cooperating with one of the cylinder ports, said sleeve valve outer edge having a recessed portion providing a port controlling portion cooperating with the sleeve outer edge whereby to control an engine cyclical event.

24. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, a single sleeve valve of the combined movement type operable in said cylinder for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve outer edge cooperating with one of the cylinder ports, and having a recessed portion providing a horizontally extending port controlling portion cooperating with the sleeve outer edge whereby to control an engine cyclical event.

25. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, a single sleeve valve of the combined movement type operable in said cylinder for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve outer edge cooperating with a cylinder exhaust port and having a recessed portion providing a horizontally extending exhaust port controlling portion offset axially of the sleeve with respect to the sleeve outer edge and cooperating therewith whereby to control the engine exhaust cyclical event.

26. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve means having an outer edge cooperating with one of the cylinder ports, said sleeve valve outer edge having port opening and closing controlling portions spaced circumferentially of the sleeve valve means.

27. In a sleeve valve engine having a cylinder ported for intake and exhaust, sleeve valve means for controlling said cylinder ports, said sleeve valve means having an outer edge cooperating with one of the cylinder ports, said sleeve valve outer edge having port opening and closing controlling portions spaced both circumferentially and axially of the sleeve valve means.

ANDRE J. MEYER. 

